Companies fight bike path plan

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CHEMICAL companies will this week make a last-ditch bid to stop
construction of Melbourne's longest bike path, warning that
cyclists and pedestrians would be at risk from toxic emissions and
explosions.

In the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the
companies will oppose the rezoning of a 22-kilometre strip of land
in Melbourne's west for the path, known as Federation Trail.

The $12 million trail, following the route of a disused sewer
between Footscray and Werribee, would be a major addition to
Melbourne's network of bike paths. It is part of the Geelong Road
upgrade and paid for by the State Government.

Bicycle Victoria has campaigned for the trail since 1997.

But three chemical companies in the Laverton area say the trail
would put cyclists and pedestrians too close to their "toxic"
industries. At one point, the easement to be used for the path runs
next to one of the chemical companies.

Omega Chemicals managing director Les Fried said it was
important to acknowledge the dangers from emissions, spills and
explosions.

"We're doing our best to minimise mishaps but there is always
some risk involved in this industry," he said.

Mr Fried said there had been a chemical explosion and
evacuations in the area in the past year. He said Omega could store
up to 1.2 million litres of corrosive chemicals, including caustic
soda and bleach, at once.

"There are a lot of chemical factories and hazardous industry,
which makes it unsuitable for a bike track," he said.

Mr Fried said the Government should discourage cyclists and
pedestrians from the area, rather than attract them to it.

He said planning rules required a buffer of at least one
kilometre between the factories and residents.

Other companies opposed to the trail include Smorgon Steel and
Peerless Holdings.

Bicycle Victoria general manager Harry Barber said the
opposition raised questions about the companies' safety
standards.

"Any company that's got a good relationship with the EPA and
other bodies regulating industry would have nothing to fear," he
said. "That would be different if someone was running a company
that was doing business in a 19th-century manner."

Mr Barber said he was frustrated that after overcoming many
obstacles, legal action could jeopardise the trail.

He conceded that the trail was not the most picturesque of
Victoria's bike paths. But he said it was a crucial link between
the west and Melbourne's wider cycling network.

Mr Barber also noted that the Bay Trail at Spotswood and
Yarraville runs next to petrochemical storage facilities that are
regarded as more hazardous than the Laverton operations.